Tortilla Flat

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The best I've ever read - Rated
Some readers will see the pure story of Tortilla Flat, some will gain hints of the book's wider moral undertones, others again will see its romantic side.

But for me this book has all that and more. I have read it regularly, about every two or three years during my adult life, and each time it reveals something new about *me* and the way I live my life in the present.

For true fans of Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath carries more indignant social commentary, Pippin IV more humour, Burning Bright more romanticism and Of Mice and Men more depth of character, However, if you want to see all these attributes distilled into one short volume, here it is.

To me this little book is John Steinbeck's masterpiece. I cherish every word of it and can honestly say that in my humble opinion it is the finest book in the English language.

A Merry Tale! - Rated
“Tortilla Flat” is an entertaining tale of Danny and his paisano friends as they live the lives of a merry band of unemployed alcoholics.

Danny is the core which draws the gradually expanding group to himself and holds it together. Pilon, Jesus Marie, Big Joe Portagee, Pablo and the Pirate all introduce their own personalities into this story. For a group which never works, drinks wine whenever it is available and survives by stealing, they are an amazingly likable lot. Thieves though the are, they each have a good hearted and generous core. This book is an easy read, entertaining and funny. Read and Enjoy!

The Young Ones go west - Rated
A friend lent me this book and said that she wanted me to love it as much as she did. Although it is admirably short and by the same author as the classic 'Grapes of Wrath' I ultimately couldn't bring myself to love it.
There's plenty to like - a scruffy bunch of slackers set up house together, drink a lot and act in a thoroughly irresponsible way - for me it doesn't really say anything. It captures the charm of a lifestyle that is almost like living in student digs, but I found it hard to connect with any of these misfits - there were rare flashes of humanity in the humour but not enough to keep me interested in their shambling progress.

A wonderful classic by a wonderful author of his time. - Rated
I had read most of the John Steinbeck novels when I was in school but I seemed to have missed this one. I loved it, the pull between poor Danny and his friends was at times humorous but sad. Mr. Steinbeck used wonderful words to discribe all the characters in the novel it really made it easy to picture them. Longman publishing have done a great job with this educational version with a brief summary at the beggining and questions following each chapter, I could see how this could be very useful to a student. I would highly recomend this book.

Excellent. Unputdownable. Vintage Steinbeck. - Rated
Steinbeck is admitably my favourite author of the 20th Century. He paints vivid pictures of his time (30s California) and shapes interesting characters. I have read the novels that many consider his greatest....of mice and men/grapes of wrath, and admittedly this novel isnt in the same class as those two. However, it is a very charming and memorable story. And in many ways similar to the two novels already mentioned. I hightly recommend it.